Posted: Nov 15, 2013
Wells Men's Soccer Raises Funds In Honor Of Referee Mike Smith
AURORA, N.Y. – The men's soccer program from Wells College recently completed its fundraising efforts to benefit the family of Lauren Smith, a Cazenovia College women's volleyball player. Her father, Mike Smith of Homer, N.Y., was a long-time soccer official in the Finger Lakes Region who passed away this past August. Smith regularly officiated North Eastern Athletic Conference games, including several at Wells over the years.
"As a referee, he was fair, honest and consistent," said John "Doc" Cook, the Assistant Coach for the Wells College men's soccer team who also serves as a local soccer referee. "He allowed the games to be competitive without sacrificing sportsmanship and fair play among the players and coaches. He will be missed on soccer fields throughout the area."
On behalf of the men's soccer program at Wells, Cook reached out to Cazenovia College with fundraising ideas to help benefit Smith's daughter, a first year student-athlete with the Wildcats. The Cazenovia women's soccer program responded enthusiastically, matching the fundraising efforts of the Wells student-athletes and the monies raised were recently deposited into a trust fund for Lauren.
Smith was recognized with a moment of silence prior to the Saturday, Oct. 26 men's soccer contest between Cazenovia and Wells. The head referee, Barry Winters, concluded the moment of silence with a loud whistle in Smith's memory.
